The Medium won't give you any sleepless nights, but treat it as a paranormal thriller rather than an all-out horror game and you'll find an interesting story (albeit a disturbing one at times) that will encourage you to push through its slightly repetitive split-screen gimmick to find out how it all ends. A short but intriguing tale.

IO continues its tug of war between Hitman: The Story and Hitman: The Assassin Simulation. For the most of Hitman 3 the latter wins out and delivers classic hit after classic hit. Wobbly conclusion aside, it’s a must for existing fans and a great introduction to gaming’s boldest, baldest stealth series.

Beat 'em ups were flatlining when Scott Pilgrim was originally released. A decade later the genre is in rude health, but it's a testament to the game's quality that it still stands tall as one of the better examples. Fans may be disappointed, however, that practically nothing has been added to the game after all this time.

Equal parts stunning achievement and terrible mess, for every wonder in Cyberpunk 2077 on PS4 there’s a handful of frustrations. Performance issues affect not just how the game looks, but how it plays and feels, constantly taking bites out of what would otherwise be an impressive and exhilarating experience.

An immersive and stunningly crafted RPG, which has raised the bar for cinematic quality in open-world games. Just be aware of the bug issues at release.

The only saving grace is that some of the elements it lifts from much better games are recreated adequately, so fans of those titles might find some of the fun of going to see a cover band of your favourite artist. You’ve likely not only played Immortals Fenyx Rising before, you’d played a better version of it.

An already spectacular game breaks free of its solo constraints to become the definitive Tetris experience.

A hugely entertaining love letter to Breath of the Wild let down by uneven performance that scuppers the game’s ludicrous highs.

Sackboy doesn’t have the tight movement tech of Crash Bandicoot 4 or the butter-melting charms of a game like Astro’s Playroom, but it’s well worth a look if you’re in the market for an innovative platformer that makes the most of the PS5’s exclusive features.

Despite its enjoyable campaign, Black Ops Cold War feels like an anachronistic package. The era of one game containing three completely disparate modes feels so long ago in the age of Warzone.

It’s hard to imagine a better version of this game. Bluepoint established itself as the master of the remake with Shadow Of The Colossus, but in Demon’s Souls, they’ve produced a launch game that’s going to be hard to beat for several years.

Astro’s Playroom is both DualSense’s killer app and an unmissable, imaginative tribute to PlayStation’s history. Games have never felt this satisfying.

Valhalla’s sober detailed research is undermined a little by some slightly tipsy execution. But this is a hearty, bawdy Viking feast of a game which spins a fine tale and offers plenty to get your teeth into.

This remains a thoroughly entertaining place to spend a few days, in fact, it is the most enjoyable PlayStation launch game Sony’s ever released. And for fans of Marvel movies who have been robbed of their cinematic superhero fix in 2020, Insomniac’s built a game in barely two years that plugs the gap nicely.

Yakuza’s new direction maintains the series signature drama and deckings, while finding rich new comedy in its weirdest beatdowns yet. Hugely entertaining stuff.

Its new content may be underwhelming, but this demanding strategy adventure is still well worth a revisit.

Ubisoft Toronto's 'Play as Anyone' system results in the publisher's most unique open-world game in years. Just don't take it too seriously.

Nintendo's toys-to-like experiment can feel like magic, but also requires a sizable living space to work effectively.

FIFA 21’s numerous small improvements make it the best in the series by default, but compared to recent entries in the series it’s easily the least revolutionary, with no major new modes or features to speak of.

Nintendo has delivered a joyous compilation of three platforming classics, but it's difficult not to feel like it could have been even more.

I honestly feel silly for getting my hopes up and expecting more from a remaster, such as finally having the ability to jump, but love makes you do stupid things, even if it is just a video game.

Marvel’s Avengers offers a reasonably entertaining campaign, but it’s highly derivative. Everything in it has been done better elsewhere. And the longer it goes on, the more it’s hampered by desperately repetitive missions and a mindless upgrade structure.

Vicarious Visions has delivered a superb remake of two iconic games without letting modern gaming’s vices get in the way.

No Straight Roads is a beautifully made adventure with a fantastic soundtrack and some phenomenal art design.

A clever and neatly crafted puzzle game that could do with some richer presentation and another layer of intricacy. Not quite a blinder, but worth a peek.

Dlala delivers a rollercoaster ride of chaos, adventure and challenge that lives up to the Battletoads name.

This stunningly gorgeous, remarkably detailed sim is a triumph for both expert players and flight rookies.

The Origami King contains some of the series’ standout moments – almost all of them related to its enjoyable script and wonderful, varied environments – but it also frustrates with some disappointing new features and all-too-familiar missteps.

Sucker Punch’s Kurosawa homage has atmosphere and sharp combat, but it's weighed down by the genre’s more perfunctory tropes.

Fans of the original need not worry: this sequel’s tone is spot on. Unfortunately, its technical issues are among the worst in living memory.

Naughty Dog has taken everything to the limit to create The Last of Us 2 – the PS4, its design template, and its staff. In some respects, it’s gone too far, but the results are undeniably spectacular, and this is the studio’s best game yet.

Those looking for a more solid FPS might want to look elsewhere, but it’s a fine alternative to the team shooter, where you can have the camaraderie without the people.

A polished package of classic and modern games the entire family will enjoy.

Still the best of Monolith Soft’s three Xenoblade games, tweaked and polished to perfection.

An oddly brief experience that feels unfinished to an extent. The fact that there are already two paid DLC packs on the way and Mojang is promising a number of free updates suggest that it expects players to stick with it and keep playing as new content is added.

The Wii U classic is just as entertaining as it was back in the day, even if it’s more of a port than a remaster.

Gears of War mostly nails its strategy debut with an accomplished, but no-frills alternative to XCOM.

The scale and detail of this partial remake is at times almost absurd. But this is a game full of beauty, intelligence and nostalgic power.

Another great Resi remake that delivers action by the bucketload, but is somewhat lacking in replay value.

A stunning return for Half-Life and an essential VR purchase - if you have the required equipment and space.

If you’re primarily a solo player, this is an exceptional FPS with more action than you’ll find in most other games’ campaigns (and an incredible metal soundtrack to boot).

Nintendo's comforting life sim is a tranquil haven at a time the world needs it most.

A gorgeous platformer that builds on the original without ruining what made it so special. If you have Game Pass, there’s no reason not to play this.

A brilliant conversion of an entertaining sim: if only all console ports were treated with this level of care.

A memorable, if modest, open-world adventure with inventive mechanics and enjoyable exploration.

There’s very little in Invector that you haven’t seen before, but that doesn’t mean any of its elements are unwelcome. Instead, Hello There Games has cherry-picked the more enjoyable elements from a number of different music games and brought them all together for a game that may consist of second-hand ideas but will have you up all night with that elusive ‘one more song’ feeling regardless.

In the last few years, there has been a lot of pent up demand for a single-player centric game like this and hopefully, Respawn will be allowed to explore some of its better ideas in a future release.

Need for Speed Heat feels like a return to form for the franchise. There’s very little new here, but what is here is certainly a crowdpleaser for anyone who has dipped in and out of the 25-year-old racing IP.

Light in story yet heavy on atmosphere, basic in function yet more cohesive than previous entries, Shenmue 3 is a worthy sequel and exactly what fans have been waiting for.

A charming and entertaining resurrection for a much-loved retro series, with a fun multiplayer mode and clever level design. It’s a very short adventure, though, which makes its premium price point difficult to justify.

While not short on ideas, Skybolt Zack’s combination of fast-paced action platforming with rhythm-like colour coordination may be too frustrating for some.

Though bold and colourful and accompanied with a dazzling score, Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games 2020's clumsy gameplay lacks the polish we've come to expect from games emblazoned by that iconic little plumber.

A bloated, showy post-apocalyptic melodrama that makes a meal of some engrossing mechanics and themes.

Luigi’s Mansion 3 is a stunning, spooky adventure that puts its hero, and the game’s Canadian developer, firmly on the map. Mario may hog the spotlight, but this Christmas’s best Switch adventure belongs to his little brother.

These new additions don't always land as perfectly as it feels they were intended, but there's no denying this is the freshest the series has felt for some time.

An entertaining wrestling game buried underneath a mound of technical issues.

It may look better than the original MediEvil, but the improvements stop there. This could have been the beginning of a new breath of life for a cult favourite, but instead it’s probably the final nail in the series’ coffin.

Fallout similarities are distracting, but get into The Outer Worlds’ narrative meat and a more distinctive adventure emerges.

Ring Fit Adventure is a unique and entertaining adventure that could offer laxed gym-goers a compelling route back into exercise.

A handsome port of one of the best team shooters of our time, if not necessarily the best place to play it.

Once you get going and start experimenting, you'll realise just how astonishingly complex, and wonderfully inventive, Autonauts really is.

An intelligent port that shrinks one of the best RPGs of recent years without losing the scale and magic.

Grid offers exhilarating racing and unmatched atmosphere but the modest track list means things get old faster than they should.

In stark comparison to previous Ghost Recon iteration Wildlands, Breakpoint feels as though it has no real sense of what it’s supposed to be or what players want from it.

EA has delivered another worthwhile FIFA package, but while Street Football and FUT seasons breathe new life into some areas, others remain stagnant and barely improved.

Link’s Awakening 2019 is not the definitive 2D Zelda: that title still belongs to 2013’s excellent A Link Between Worlds. But while it may not surprise, it certainly does delight in a way that even the Nintendo 3DS game doesn’t always manage.

In full flow, Daemon X Machina can be exceptional... But it’s a thrill that fades with repetition, in a structure that falls uncomfortably between a Platinum style linear action game and the long haul loop of a Monster Hunter.

Though a tad slow to get going, Gears 5 has reinvented itself in ways many of us didn't dare dream was possible, blending what we loved about the franchise with a fresh story, personable protagonists, and some of the best visuals and shooting mechanics we've seen.

A monster-sized expansion that builds on and enhances Monster Hunter: World in every way, Iceborne is an essential upgrade for hunters craving new monsters, challenges, and gear.

Man of Medan seems like a good start for the Dark Pictures Anthology, but as a standalone title it somewhat stutters out of the starting blocks.

A one of a kind combat experience and Platinum’s most well-rounded adventure to date. A killer combo in every sense of the term.

All this enthusing notwithstanding, we're not sure Control is Remedy's finest action game – that accolade probably still goes to Max Payne - but it is perhaps Remedy's best-written and staged game.

With its twisted style and humour, RAD offers a fresh take on the roguelike, proving there’s plenty of life in the genre.

New Colossus fans will probably dislike its unfocused narrative and fussy levelling system, but Youngblood offers plenty of blood and thunder if you give it time.

Intelligent Systems has gone big with its latest Fire Emblem and it’s a real achievement, layering up the base game with an absorbing system of customisation options and character development. But at times it feels too big, and will demand plenty of time and patience to see it through.

The Russo brothers have turned Marvel in to cinematic masterpieces. If you’re looking for a gaming equivalent, Ultimate Alliance 3 isn’t it, though that was never its intention. But if you’re looking to get your favourite heroes together to kick ass with friends then you’ll have a Hulk-smashing time.

Dragon Quest Builders 2 is the perfect sequel. The kind that improves on every aspect of the original, adding more meaningful content to the mix, quality of life fixes and throwing some interesting new aspects at players, whilst maintaining that core that made the first game so enjoyable in the first place.

Mario Maker 2 offers a fun and more dynamic package than the original game. A surprising and enjoyable Mario classic in the making, with plenty to offer creators and non-creators alike.

It's very much the Symphony of the Night revamp Castlevania fans asked for, but newcomers may relish its eccentricities too.

Comfortably the best kart racer on PS4 and Xbox One, and earning a creditable second place on Switch, this is a seriously impressive calling card for its unsung makers.

Judgment is plenty entertaining, but it is just a muted Yakuza game in disguise. And after so many games of smashing faces into concrete, we hoped for a little more than that.

With a terrific soundtrack and clever rhythm mechanics, Cadence of Hyrule is the best Zelda spin-off yet.

While admirable in ambition, Du Lac and Fey's unfocussed story and maddening mechanics are frustrating at best, and unplayable at worst.

Fast, colourful, robustly made... but Team Sonic Racing’s seven-year-old predecessor was more transformative in every sense.

It’s amazing how little Rage 2’s issues matter, because of how enjoyable the combat is. The slow start and uninspiring open world may damage the pace, but it’s a game that truly excels when you’re treading the line between being hopelessly outgunned and a super-powered Rambo.

Sekiro is the fabulous culmination of From Software’s modus operandi, honed relentlessly since 2009. While it plays like its predecessors, it also feels different and fresh.

There’s an intriguing game buried somewhere in Anthem, lying broken beneath its loot and structural frustrations like chunks of fossilised dinosaur bone.

For all the deafening noise and fury of its street battles and set-pieces, The Division 2 is, at heart, a game of co-operative tidying up with incrementally better guns.

The finest – and best value – Labo kit so far is no Rift beater, but an excellent entry-level VR experience, especially for younger players.

While admirable in its intent, Jupiter and Mars' watery wonder is marred by repetitious activities and a lack of detail and direction.

Not quite Yoshi’s Island beater, but closer than he’s come in a long time.

The onslaught of things to shoot, crush or skewer demons with is always exhilarating, and done ample. justice by Capcom’s RE Engine

Mortal Kombat 11 is so close to being the best all-round fighting game package, but falls just short due to an aggressive need for currency grinding to unlock content.